The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-27
THE AIR LINE COLLISION.
The Conductor and Engineer Made a
Mistake in CalcUlations-TooM Much
Responsibility Placed on the
Employees.
From the ChQr70He Chronicle.

That Engineer Joe Harris and Con-
ductor Revell, of the freight train, were
responsible for the recent loss OF life and
property in the wreck on the Air Line
road, near Greer's station, there is no
denying, for the Investigation has placed
the blame upon their shoulders, but
while they are TO be blamed, they are
not to be censured. The responsibility
really rests upon the management Of the
company and not upon the employees,
nd it is all due to the system recently
adopted by the road, by which conduc-
to,S and engineers arc virtually mid
train di<patcherS. Had tho old system
OF Colonel Talcott been in operation
last week, the Greer'S Station wreck
would never have occurred. Under the
old system, the conductor and engineer
OF the freight would receive an order
that certain train was so many hodrs
or minutes late, that they would meet
and pass that particular train 1T GER
tain station. The order the conductor
and engineer were required to read and
repeat to the train dispatcher so that
there could be no misunderstanding.
After they repeated the message, tney
waited for an 20. h" reply from the
dispatcher and then acted accordingly.
When ordered to stop ut 4 certain sta
ton, they had to hold their train there
until orders were received to move on.
The system is different now. Instead OF
the old and simple way Of governing
trains, the engineers and conductors are
required to look out for themselves.
They are not informed when and where
to meet trair, but are required TO make
their own calculations.
And to mistake in calculating mile
age and time is due the loss OF four lives
and the destruction of a great amount
OF rolling property last Thursday.
The case can be stated very simply.
Under the old order of things Engineer
Harris and Conductor Revell wonld
have been instructed TO meet and pass
No. 5. at Greer's Station. But under
the new system their orders were as Iol-
lows: "No. 81 is running four hours
and twenty minutes behind schedule
time, from Greenvile to Charlotte"
This notice was received by Engineer
Harris at Spartanburg. The regular
time for 81 to leave Greenrille was l:0l
a. m. To this four hours and twenty
minutes had to be added. Then the
conductor and engineer, by the dim light
Of their lanterns, had 10 pull out volu-
minOus sheet containing the schedule OF
ten trains, locate each train, particularly
the one first coming TO meet them, make
their calculations and take their own re-
sponsibility for the consequences.
/ Conductor Revell is a young man,
''green horn" and a party evidently un-
fitted for the position which lie held.
He had been on the 70 I'd for not more
than week, if that long, and Of course
Engineer Harris assumed almost the en-
rire possibility of the train. Engin-
eer Harris had been doubled" for
week past, and on Wednesday night he
came in from Atlanta, and rested two
hours and started ont again on the re-
turn trip. Twenty-Five heavily loaded
cars in charge of 4 green conductor be-
hind him, the track in front 10 look
after, half dead from overwork, a cold
drizzling rain driving into his face, what
wonder is it that poor Joe Harris made
mistake in figuring out his schedule.
The running of his engine was care and
responsibility enough under ordinary
circumstances, but to this was added
the responsibility Of figuring out the
problem: ''5l is running 1920 late;
where will I meet herr" Joe and the
conductor studied the big schedule sheet,
where 1.-TWO lines must be looked down
and four lines across" and they simply
made a mistake. No. 81 was regularly
due at Greer's at l:27. Four hours and
twenty minutes late made it due there
a. 5:47. The conductor and engineer Of
the freight made mistake in cal
culating the time when the pas
senger would reach Greer's, and
pulled out expecting to meet and pass it
at Taylor'S. This is the whole story.
and while it shows clearly that Harris
and Revell were to blame, it does not
show that they are to be censured.
Under the present system too much re-
sponsibility is placed upon the trainmen
and to this fact alone is due Thursdays
disaster.
Harris was one of the most careful en-
gineers on the road. and was so cautious
and particular that he had gained the
nickname OF ''the Granny" He was
favorite among all railroad men and en-
ioyed the confidence OF the railroad au-
thorities. He can be blamed for making
mistake, but, at the same time, the
railroad management must be blamed for
placing him in a position liable to make
it. The lesson OF the wreck is clearly
that too much responsibility is placed
upon the trainmen.
Engineer Harris is at his home in
Charlotte. Rumors have been heard
that he is to be arrested and carried to
Greenviiie for trial upon criminal pro-
cess, but his friends believe that such
talk is unfounded. though they believe,
at the same time, that 4 trial would only
sustain the points above set forth and
cause the management OF the road to
share its proportion Of the blame.
The wreck was costly one to the
Richmond aud Danville Company. 1t is
estimated that the wreckage Of rolling
stock and damage to goods alone will
amount TO $4,000, and parties who are
in a position to know, say that if the
company gets ont with Z loss not less than
$50, 900 it will be fortunate. The pas
senger engine destroyed was one OF the
large new engines built especially for
passenger service on the Richmond and
Danvilie, and cost $1,000. The freight
engine was an old one and was valued
at $4,000. No attempt will be made to
repair the engiSes for there is not a
sound piece Of machinery left in the
whole wreckaye. Tie engines were as
completely DESTROYED as il workmen had
taken sledgehammcrS and broken them